Hey All. After attending the Evolution Driving Schools 'Challenge' Class last weekend and just finishing up a AutoX event today I think I'm in need of a Limited Slip Differential. The car handles amazing but the tough part is getting out of the corners / cones. With ASC off I honestly think the tires could spin forever. I find myself 'goosing' the gas to avoid prolonged tire spin, etc. but in the world of AutoX (to me) that is lost time. My question is really directed for those that went from a R53 / R56 without a LSD to installing one and what the difference was on the track? I really don't want to spend the money on one right now but if the difference was night and day I'll look into doing it as well as a new clutch and flywheel at the same time.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Jeremy

 

Def go with a quafie, or OS Giken diff. You won't be sorry. I've seen guys drop 3 secs a lap by adding LSD to a track car. And in AutoX you should be able to drop a sec. Give us a call and we'll hook you up.

WAY
317.201.8670

 

I went with OBX (did "rebuild" it before install) and flywheel and clutch in both cars. installed in 2 cars in one day before AMVIV.

We BEAT on the clutch and LSD at track days, Solo 1 and Auto-X . Never an issue.
DO IT ! .. the difference is amazing. Ohh and FUN

On a 60 sec Auto X it is worth a second or 2

With the mods you have listed .. you need it.
What tires do you run ?
and I am guessing you must be SM with your mods ?

 

I've over 100k miles on a Quaife without issue, and recommend it highly.

The difference on corner exit is night and day.

 

If you're trying to win at autocross, or beat a pal at the track, bite the bullet. The majority (all but one or two) of the TBDs we've done have been Quaife. To date, there have been no failures. We did the first one in 2002.

 

I've been running the OS in multiple cars in mulitple forms of motorsports. It's tuneable and can be made to work with every appliction. It's a great product and a world of a difference to the quaife.

 

Had an OS Giken LSD installed recently.
Did a trackday today - incredible.

Lap times fell from 1:18 (at 75 degree track temp) to 1:14 (at 95 degrees)...On a 75 degree day it would have been 5 seconds or more. The track was dirtier than usual and the kerbs real slippery/slimy/snotty because of the heat - didn't phase the mini at all.

There is not a hint of understeer. I'm running fixed camber plates and 20mm rear swaybar - and there are 2 corners where the car always pushed wide...not any longer, those 2 corners alone probably bought me 3 seconds...I find myself now contemplating shifting up to 4th gear in places where I never ever even got close to redline in 3rd - you can just apply power that much earlier.

It's weird, but the car somehow feels like the engine has been moved back a foot or two - you get a mid-engine rwd(!) "feel" in corners.

I don't know how the OS compares to the Torsen or Quaife - but it's an incredible piece of hardware. Well worth the money.

 

anyone have thoughts on the cusco? i know they are big in teh drift world.. but what about for our fwd minis on the track?

 

I have nothing to compare the OS Giken against...

Others might be just as good, I don't know...But I can't imagine that anything could be better than the Giken...

It's just perfect.

 

Are any of the other LSD clutchless like the Quaife?

 

The OBX, but that is essential the quaife just Chinese.

 

There is also the torsen as well that's what I'm install as soon as my replacement trans shows up.

 

Torsen is what the quaife and obx are.

 

Torsen is the brand they are a oem supplier for honda gm and ford. It is also the svt diff for the svt focus

 

My mistake. I was assuming we were using in the same way Band-Aid is used. Sorry if I seemed terse.

 

I didn't take it that way at all.
Here is a link to the item for reference. It is the unit for the SVT.
http://www.tousleyfordparts.com/part...subcat1=120782

 

Is this a direct replacement like the Quaife?

 

Suppose to be. Waiting on my replacement trans to get here so I can drop it in.

 

I ordered a Quaife form one of our vendors but its $1100 and a 3 week wait. If this is the same and costs $400-$500 less, maybe I should rethink my order.

 

That would totally be your call. I've heard it suggested on here many times. But never heard of anyone running them in a Mini. I searched on the Focus boards and heard nothing but good things with no failures.

 

With enough searching and reading through of NAM, there are a couple of people that are running the Torsen Ford SVT diff: I have, they are in here, just hard to find!
Additionally, Quaife has the same part number for the R53 and SVT units.
OBX also has the same part number for these two applications.
I purchased a Torsen unit from Tousley Ford for approx. $630.
Considering the OBX’s require the washer change-outs, I opted for the Torsen brand as a reasonable purchase upgrade. I also assumed better metallurgy, machining and assembly processes.
I could not see a reason to pay almost double for the prettier Quaife unit.
This summer when during the much need clutch job, I hope to install the Torsen. By hope, I mean I hope it is truly a direct fit. I’ll share my successes and failures with NAM.
I may be remembering incorrectly, I thought that “Torsen” was a manufacturer and also the originator of the Torque Sensing diff., likely holding a patent that Quaife pays on. The word Torsen is also the name applied to this sort/method of differential.
…just my 2 cents
Cheers!

 

That's what I was doing. I had forgotten they also made their was also a brand called torsen as well.

I'm kinda suprised either Torsen or a MINI vendor hasn't jumped on what appears to be compatibility. 633 is really good price, the torsen FSAE special has a reputation for being a very solid part, and FSAE teams do all sorts of stupid s*** with there cars.

 

Back from the Dead....Sorry

LosOsos"S"
The torsen diff really is a drop in replacement for the MINI.

So far I'm loving mine.

 

That's awesome.

 

Good work CrazyIvan. Any money shots for us?

Jeremy